OCEAN CRUISING

Ocean cruising takes place out on the open-sea. These large cruise-ships are generally referred to as “floating cities.” Ocean cruise ships will accommodate anywhere from 2000-5000 passengers dependent on what cruise “line” you choose to sail with. See our top 10 reasons to take a cruise below.10 Reasons to Take a Cruise#1: A Cruise Vacation Offers Great ValueCruises offer great value for your vacation dollar because the fares include nearly everything you'll need for a fantastic trip: food, accommodations, daytime and evening entertainment and transportation between travel destinations. On some lines, kids even sail free or at discounted rates when sharing a cabin with two adults. #2: See Multiple Destinations, Unpack Only OnceOn a cruise, you unpack once and your floating hotel takes you from city to city or from island to island and there's no need to mess with train or ferry schedules, or lug your suitcase along cobblestone streets. Every morning, you'll wake up in a new place. Can't decide between St. Lucia and Barbados, or Italy or Spain? Why choose? Pick an itinerary that visits all the cities on your wish list.#3: Cruise Ships are Family FriendlyFrom tots to teens, grandparents to grandkids, family cruises are fun for all ages. If you're struggling to find a vacation that your 5-, 10- and 15-year-olds will all love — and that has adult activities, too — ships now have extensive kids' facilities, split by age. Teens have their own cool hangouts, far away from the play areas for the little ones (and certainly a nice distance from parent-friendly pools and bars).

#4: Cruise Ships Come in All Shapes and SizesThe ideal cruise ship for one person may be a mega-ship outfitted with onboard rock-climbing walls and outdoor movie theaters, while another will prefer an intimate ship with an upscale ambience and someone else will want the seafaring experience of a masted tall sailing ship. Luckily, all those different types of cruise ships exist.#5: Ships Offer a Variety of Onboard ActivitiesToday's cruise ships are designed to keep everyone happy. Want to pamper yourself at the spa while your spouse hits the casino? Or lounge in the sun reading a book while your family plays basketball. You can go to an educational lecture, a wine tasting, a computer class or a dance workshop; paint pottery, play bridge, learn a language or do yoga; dine at a casual buffet, a fancy sit-down restaurant, a sushi bar, a diner or a steakhouse; watch a movie, a comedy routine, a song-and-dance show or live music performance. And if all you want to do is nothing while the ship sails from port to port you can do that, too.#6: Cruise Vacations are Easy to PlanBecause cruise vacations package together transportation and accommodations, they're very easy to plan. Pick your ship, itinerary and cabin, and away you go — no searching for hotels in your price range, no coordinating travel between cities. You can even get your travel agent to arrange your airfare for you — or choose a departure port within driving distance to eliminate that extra planning step.#7: Ships Are Floating CitiesIf you're concerned about being stranded in the middle of the ocean, relax. Cruise ships are like floating cities with everything you could possibly want onboard. Today's vessels are outfitted with Wi-Fi, cell service and satellite TV so you can stay in touch with the real world during your cruise (if you even want to). Onboard shops sell the toiletries you forgot to pack, medical centers can provide medicine or a doctor's services if needed, and laundry facilities let you wash your clothes mid-cruise so you don't need to over-pack. Of course, there's also the fun stuff like gyms, multiple restaurants, movie screens, spas, swimming pools, theaters and discos.

#8: Plan an Exotic VacationAlways wanted to visit Asia but are nervous about the language barrier? Curious about the Middle East, but nervous about country customs? A cruise is one of the best ways to see the most exotic and foreign destinations in the world in an easy way. If you're uncomfortable with independent sightseeing in a new locale, simply take a ship's tour with English-speaking guides. Or team up with more experienced travelers you meet online or onboard to share a cab or private guide.#9: Cruising Is RomanticIf you want to rekindle the spark with your sweetie, a cruise vacation provides plenty of together time — sharing side-by-side lounge chairs by the pool, a table for two at dinner, dancing in the evening or sharing quality time onshore. Cruise lines also have special packages for honeymoons, vow renewals and weddings onboard and onshore.#10: Cruising is SocialIf you love to meet people from around the country — and the world — cruising provides a wonderful opportunity to make new friends. Onboard, you'll meet people at your dinner table, at the piano bar or by the pool. The person seated next to you might be from Paris, Texas, or Paris, France; London, Ontario, or London, England. Kids can find playmates their own age during youth activities, so they're not always with adults or their older or younger siblings. Looking for Mr. or Ms. Right? We have proof that many long-term relationships begin during a vacation at sea.